austraLasia #2499
“So Bosconian, So Papua New Guinean!”: DBTS Gabutu 24th Foundation Day Celebrations:
Fr. Ramon Galve Borja, sdb
PORT MORESBY: 12th September 2009 -- “A real Salesian success!” That’s how Fr. Luciano Odorico SDB, DBTC Rector, put it succinctly, referring to the 24th Foundation Day Celebrations of Don Bosco Technical School in Gabutu held last August. It was a blending of prayer and culture, evangelisation and education, fun and formation, all in a youthful Papua New Guinean way. Typically Bosconian; undoubtedly Salesian!
First things first. Moments of prayer, recollection and confession commenced the days of celebration. Even non-Catholics approached our priests for guidance and blessing as Catholic bosconians lined up for the sacrament. Even Fr. Vaclav Klement SDB, assisted and was impressed in hearing the confessions of our young people. An animated celebration of the Holy Mass was held Thursday morning. As always, our Gabutu bosconians prayed and sang hymns and praises, nay, they roared!
The whole school, as a family, under the leadership of the ever-zealous principal-economer, Fr. Jess Escala, spent weeks of preparing the place, the programs, but of course, most of all, the people. Exhibits, cultural houses, the stage, the church, classrooms and shops, they were all beautified and prepared. All in the spirit of family for we believe that only in such can learning and growth be achieved. As this year’s foundation day celebration theme stresses: “More than just a School; We are a Family!”
Among the highlights of the festivity were the following: the search for 'Mr. Bosco'; academic and technical exhibits and competitions which highlighted the bosconian excellence in their fields of competence; a whole day of so rich and so colorful Papua New Guinean cultural presentations graced by some dignitaries, both foreign and local, from the Church and society; and a well-participated and most probably well-appreciated family day celebrations. At the end of each lively day, especially at the end of it all, you see Salesians, students and staff simply smiling… tired but inspired… simply inspiring.
On one of these festive days, August 21 to be exact, PM's Post Courier published a letter from Mr. Patirck Kaiuku, a bosconian past pupil of DBTS Gabutu, Class of 1999, as a response to an article featured by the broadsheet entitled ‘Don Bosco Folk, committed like a Family’.
“At a time when PNG is contending with challenges of nation building and realizing national goals of integral human development, the Salesian philosophy of education provides a well balanced and culturally appropriate alternative.
The objective of moulding young people into ‘good Christians and honest citizens’ complements Don Bosco’s mission of nurturing productive citizens. Before the education reforms of the late 1990s when the so-called ‘drop-out’ system was ostensibly employed to classify the academic potential of students, Don Bosco made it possible for some of us to realize our potential in society.
The instruction’s emphasis on respect for women and the helpless, cultural identity, community service and productive and godly living make Don Bosco schools an educational institution in a class of its own.
Indeed, as a former principal would say: ‘There are no second class citizens in Don Bosco’s educational philosophy’.”
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
Title: australasia 2346
Subject and key words:
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2346
“So Bosconian, So Papua New Guinean!”: DBTS Gabutu 24th Foundation Day Celebrations:
Fr. Ramon Galve Borja, sdb
PORT MORESBY: 12th September 2009 -- “A real Salesian success!” That’s how Fr. Luciano Odorico SDB, DBTC Rector, put it succinctly, referring to the 24th Foundation Day Celebrations of Don Bosco Technical School in Gabutu held last August. It was a blending of prayer and culture, evangelisation and education, fun and formation, all in a youthful Papua New Guinean way. Typically Bosconian; undoubtedly Salesian!
First things first. Moments of prayer, recollection and confession commenced the days of celebration. Even non-Catholics approached our priests for guidance and blessing as Catholic bosconians lined up for the sacrament. Even Fr. Vaclav Klement SDB, assisted and was impressed in hearing the confessions of our young people. An animated celebration of the Holy Mass was held Thursday morning. As always, our Gabutu bosconians prayed and sang hymns and praises, nay, they roared!
The whole school, as a family, under the leadership of the ever-zealous principal-economer, Fr. Jess Escala, spent weeks of preparing the place, the programs, but of course, most of all, the people. Exhibits, cultural houses, the stage, the church, classrooms and shops, they were all beautified and prepared. All in the spirit of family for we believe that only in such can learning and growth be achieved. As this year’s foundation day celebration theme stresses: “More than just a School; We are a Family!”
Among the highlights of the festivity were the following: the search for 'Mr. Bosco'; academic and technical exhibits and competitions which highlighted the bosconian excellence in their fields of competence; a whole day of so rich and so colorful Papua New Guinean cultural presentations graced by some dignitaries, both foreign and local, from the Church and society; and a well-participated and most probably well-appreciated family day celebrations. At the end of each lively day, especially at the end of it all, you see Salesians, students and staff simply smiling… tired but inspired… simply inspiring.
On one of these festive days, August 21 to be exact, PM's Post Courier published a letter from Mr. Patirck Kaiuku, a bosconian past pupil of DBTS Gabutu, Class of 1999, as a response to an article featured by the broadsheet entitled ‘Don Bosco Folk, committed like a Family’.
“At a time when PNG is contending with challenges of nation building and realizing national goals of integral human development, the Salesian philosophy of education provides a well balanced and culturally appropriate alternative.
The objective of moulding young people into ‘good Christians and honest citizens’ complements Don Bosco’s mission of nurturing productive citizens. Before the education reforms of the late 1990s when the so-called ‘drop-out’ system was ostensibly employed to classify the academic potential of students, Don Bosco made it possible for some of us to realize our potential in society.
The instruction’s emphasis on respect for women and the helpless, cultural identity, community service and productive and godly living make Don Bosco schools an educational institution in a class of its own.
Indeed, as a former principal would say: ‘There are no second class citizens in Don Bosco’s educational philosophy’.”
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
Title: australasia 2346
Subject and key words:
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2346
